The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-02-09
A New story of Lincoln.

New story of Lincoln.
One eveningat crowded party given
by Senator Dixon | was forced by the
press into corner and, on looking
around, found my next neigbbor was
Secretary Stanton. BY and by Dixon
came along and, spying us, said: " STAN
ton, tell him the scene between old Abe
and you the night of the battle of Gettys-
burg" Stanton then related the fol-
lowing "M Mr.. Lincoln had been eX-
cessively solicitous about the result of
that battle. 1t was known that Lee
had crossed into Pennsylvania, threat
ened Washington and that battle had
been joined near Gettysburg, upon
which, in all probability, the fate of
Washington and the issue of the war
depended. The telegraphic wires ran
into the war department and dispatches
had been received of the results of the
first days fight which showed how
desperate was the attack, the stubborn
ness of the defence and that the result
was indecisive. All that day and the
next Mr. Lincoln was in an agony of
anxiety, running over, as was his wont,
to the war office to ascertain for HIM
self the latest news, instead of waiting
for the reports to be sent him by his
subordinates. Then came a long in
terval when nothing was heard from
Meade. and the President was wrought
up to an intense pitch of excitement
Night came On and Stanton, seeing the
President worn out with care and
anxiety, persuaded him to return to
the White House, promising if any
thing came over the wires during the
night to give him immediate informa-
ton. AT last, toward midnight, came
the electric flash of that great victory
which saved the Union. Stanton seized
the dispatch and ran as fast as he
could to the Executive Mansion, up
the stairs and knocked at the room
where the President was catching a fit
full slumber Who is there?' he heard
in the voice of Mr.. Lincoln. Stan
tom The door was opened and Mr..
Lincoln appeared, with light in his
hand, peering through the crack of
the door, in the shortest nightdress
and longest legs as Stanton said, he
ever saw on human being. Before
Stanton, who was out of breath, could
say word, the President, who had
Caught WIFI luSlluCl tllC VA
preston of his face, gave shout OF
exultation, grabbed him with both arms
around the waist and danced him
around the chamber until they were
both exhausted. They then sat down
upon trunk and the President, who
was still in his night-dress, read ovei
and over again the telegram and ther
discussed with him the probabilities OF
the future and the results of the vic
tory until the day dawned. Such 6
scene at midnight between two of the
greatest Americans whom this genera
ton has produced, to whom an all
wise Providence had committed il
largest measure the fate of republican
liberty in this western world, may no
afford a subject for the loftiest concep
tions of the poet or the painter, but
more than any other incident within
my knowledge, it shows the human ma
ture of these two great men, and bring
them home to the hearts and the hearth
stones of the plain people of whom Mr.
Lincoln was, on whom he depended
and whom he loved. 1t shows hin
brooding all through those three awfu
days with an anxiety akin to agon
which no one could share-worn an
weary with the long and doubtful con
flict between hope and fear-treadin
the wine-press for his people alone
And at last, when the lightning tlas
had lifted the dark cloud, dancing Xix
a school-boy in the ecstacy Of deligf
and exhibiting touch of that huma
nature which makes all the world akir
AS | look back over the intervenin
years to the great men and great event
of those historic days, his figure rise
before my memory the grandest an
most majestic Of them all. There wei
giants in those days, but he towere
above them like Popocatapetl or Chin
borazo. He was great in character,
intellect, in wisdom, in tact, in coul
Gil, in speech, in heart, in person.
everything. ZEE Congressman Brdnt
dgee of Connecticut
.